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A significant stride towards a greener future is taking shape in Aalborg, Denmark, as Aalborg Forsyning, Reno-Nord, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are joining forces to construct a groundbreaking Power-to-X facility. Scheduled to commence operations in 2028, this ambitious project will establish one of the world's first commercial plants dedicated to producing green methanol from locally sourced, waste-based carbon dioxide.

The planned facility will feature a substantial electrolysis plant with a capacity ranging from 300 to 400 MW. This electrolyzer will utilize renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen. In a unique and environmentally conscious approach, the hydrogen will then be combined with captured CO2 emitted from Reno-Nord's waste incineration processes. This innovative process will yield approximately 130,000 tonnes of green methanol annually, a fuel poised to play a crucial role in decarbonizing the heavy transport sector, particularly shipping.

The environmental benefits of the project are substantial. The plant is projected to recycle an impressive 180,000 tonnes of waste-based CO2 each year from Reno-Nord, preventing its release into the atmosphere. Michael Hannibal, a partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, emphasized the broader impact of such initiatives: "Green methanol plays an important role in society's ability to decarbonize sectors that are otherwise difficult to transition. At CIP, we focus on projects that contribute to this transition by producing green hydrogen, green methanol and green ammonia, and we are looking forward to help drive the transition through this project as well."

Søren Gais Kjeldsen, CEO of Aalborg Forsyning, highlighted the pioneering nature of the project, stating, "We are building one of the first commercial plants in the world, where the end product is methanol prepared to be used directly in heavy transport of e.g. ships. Methanol production requires a CO2 source – and the unique thing about the plant is that we use captured CO2 from the waste incineration at Reno-Nord." This circular economy approach, utilizing waste CO2 as a valuable feedstock, sets the Aalborg plant apart.

Beyond the production of green fuel, the Power-to-X plant will offer additional benefits to the local community. It is expected to supply approximately 130 GWh of excess heat annually to Aalborg Forsyning's district heating network. This significant contribution can cover about 7 percent of the municipality's total heat consumption or the heating needs of roughly 5,000 households. Furthermore, the electrolysis process will generate oxygen as a byproduct, which can be utilized by local industries and for medical applications.